Ishkur's Guide to Rave Culture

Dance
One of the oldest forms of human expression. Dance combines with Language and Art to form the triad of abstract conceptualizations--no, don't skip this--that distinguish humans from all other animals.
These abstract conceptualizations are interchangeable. Dance can be a form of Language, as Language can be a form of Dance. Dance can be a form of Art, as Art can be a form of Dance. And Art can be a form of Language, as Language can be a form of Art.
The triad of abstract conceptualizations

      This triangle perhaps best describes the core psyche of humankind when you substitute the words for what they represent, and then combine their meanings. Hence, Dance is attributed to physical expression, or the act; Language is attributed to emotional expression, or the vibe; and Art is attributed to mental expression, or the thought. Additionally, the merging of all three of these forces (Dance, Art, and Language) brings about spiritual expression, or the belief.
      The physical (Dance) tempered with the emotional (Language) produces Love. The emotional (Language) combined with the mental (Art) makes music. And finally, the mental (Art) tempered with the physical (Dance) results in Humour.
      Now, with this intricate network of abstract conceptualizations in mind--and Dance being one of its central tenets--it seems almost totally ridiculous that any governing body would want to restrict such a form of human expression. Yet that is exactly what they seem to be trying to do, even though it has not occurred to them that preventing people from dancing is like preventing the sun from rising in the morning. (see Rave)

Dealer
Never buy your drugs at a rave. If possible, always get your drugs outside of the party, and from someone you know to be reputable. It doesn’t hurt to have a friend or two with you as well, to rely on second opinions and to check for bad vibes that might be emanating from the dealer. Inspect the drugs carefully, and don’t take anything the dealer says at face value. If the dealer is itching to escape after the sale, it might mean the drugs are bunk. In which case, pay close attention to the dealer’s clothing, and memorize his appearance so you can track him down later on in the night if, for any reason, something comes up (literally and figuratively). (see Bunk)

Dehydration
The number one cause of MDMA-related deaths. Easily preventable, but often ill heeded. (see Water)

Decks (see Turntables)

Dictionary
"What is above all needed is to let the meaning choose the word, and not the other way around."¹
      Dictionaries are opinion, presented as fact, in alphabetical order.²

Disco The father of house. Actually, more like the mother.

DIY
The most often-heard response that promoters tell whiny ravers, when the rave they had spent weeks preparing for suddenly goes awry. Generally proceeded by the words "You don’t like the way we throw our parties?!"

DJ
1) A disease, though not exclusively a social one.
      Symptoms of this terrible affliction can range anywhere from mild to extreme cases of head-cocked-to-the-sidus, brought on by misuse of the addictive drug headphones and its supplement turntables, aided by really bad DJ

psychoactive chemicals called records, which produce a state of mind referred to by its street name as "deck-hog".
      Other deadly effects of the disease are egotism (pictured), commercialism, elitism, entouragism, selling-outism, stagnatism, and even producerism.
      This disease affects practically everyone in the rave scene at one point in time or another. Early warning signs are a willingness to buy a mixer, a pair of turntables, and oodles of records, and an extreme passion for a musical genre to the point where you feel you can do better (see DIY, Trainspotter). Fortunately for most, these symptoms usually pass without causing any serious problems, and they rarely ever return.
      There are always a select few, however, that are not so lucky. For them, this disease is often terminal, because as of yet there is still no known cure for such a horrible affliction.
2) A DJ who doesn't dance is like a writer who doesn't read.³

DJ ho (bitch/slut/groupie)
Indentured servants. (see Scenester)

Door-charge
The mathematical formula for calculating the door-charge is as follows:
math equation

where:
$ = the price of door-charge, measured in "bux"
p = the pre-sale charge, up until the day of event
a = the estimated attendance for the event
t = the time of night--or rather the time left until the party ends. For instance, if it is 1am, and the party is scheduled to go until 8am, then the time left to party (t) = 7.*
d = the desperation of ravers at the (t) time of night, thus making its value the inverse for finding t, in that it calculates how many hours have elapsed since the party started. For instance, if it is 1am and the party started at 11pm, then (d) = 2. *
g = a mathematical constant, gauging the greediness of promoters. It is calculated by assessing the size of the party, using the following standard deviation table:

estimated attendance	type of party	value of g
0-500	small	1
5-1500	medium	2
1500-3000	big	3
3000-5000	massive	4
5000+	super massive	5

* the lowest possible value for these variables is 2, in that they can never be 1 or 0.

Dope
Slang. It means 'good'.

Drama
What happens when ravers jockey for coveted social positions based on popularity and status among their peers.

Drugs "The subject of drugs at raves is very controversial. One wonders whether the rave scene would have been more easily accepted by the public had the presence of drugs not been so high. Of course, many others wonder how raves could have ever come about without them."⁴
A deeply-embedded puritan ethic seems to affect the response to drugs in Western societies. To use a drug for pleasure is taboo, yet to use a drug to relieve pain is acceptable. In reality there is no sharp distinction: if someone is 'suffering from depression' and a drug makes him feel happy, it is regarded as a medicine and meets with approval. But if that person is regarded as normal and takes a drug that makes him happy, he is indulging in something quite unacceptable. Except, of course, if the drug happens to be nicotine, caffeine, or alcohol.

Drum n bass
(see Jungle, then House)

DXM
If Robitussin only knew about the incredible impact their products have had on rave culture.
Of course, if they did know that their cough syrups were being abused as a popular alternative to PCP, they would probably start marketing them as such. Or come out and complain to rave culture about their misuse. Or wake up someday to find that their cold remedy is a schedule-1 drug.

¹ George Orwell, Politics and the English Language (1946)
² taken from The Doubter’s Companion: A Dictionary of Aggressive Common Sense, by John Ralston Saul
³ definition donated by Eric Hayes
⁴ Brian Behlendorf, from the alt.rave faq

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"Dude"
this has got to be one of the most overused raver words...I know I say it constantly to address a close friend to just some random raver. How I use the word changes depending on what I'm about to say after it.
-- Kaz, January 26, 2000

Drugs:
This a tired issue. ALL music is tied to a drug. Music + drugs = ?? That's the way it is...end of story.

e.g.'s:

Jazz - heroin (for the musicians themselves no less)
Jungle - pot, booze, jib
Progressive - e, jib
Rock - heroin, cocaine, pot, booze
Death Metal - PCP
Trance - any hallucinogen
House - e, cocaine, pot, booze
D'n'B - jib, K, PCP
Hardcore - either straight edge or EVERYTHING ... no middle ground
Breaks - pot, jib

-- Nice Guy, March 17, 2000

Dub-plate: a one-off pressing of music cut onto an aceate disc by a lathe
-- highspeeddub, March 29, 2000

Drum'n'Bass and Jungle are NOT house, nor are they remotely related to house in any way shape or form besides the fact that they are electronic music. I am insulted that These two fine musical styles have been grouped together with (whoopie-->) house. Drum'n'Bass is good, house usually isn't. Drum'nBass and Jungle are usually about 170-190 BPM, with hard heavy rolling basslines and Chopped up drums as opposed to the incredibly lboring BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM of house trance and techno.
Jungle=Good
Drum'n'Bass=Good
House,trance,techno=No Comment.

-- Incubus, April 5, 2000

(author's note: see Junglist)

Dub
1. Reggae on acid.
2. Da ultimate form of music.
-- Fry, May 14, 2000

Dustjunkie - The rarest form of raver.

Also duster, dustbuster, flunky. Dustjunkies are generally:
1. Ex-punkers or hippies
2. Into expression
3. Dressed in hoodies, trenchcoats, wifebeaters and thermals, sometimes all at the same time.
4. Centered on their libidos
5. Unable to care what people think of them.

Their generally preferred music is "old school tek (techno)," funky break or junkie, a combination of hip hop, house and punk. Sadly these misunderstood misfits sort of died when Pop WILL Eat Itself did.
-- Fry, July 17, 2000

DJ Whore - those annoying bitches dressed in clothes that are three sizes too small... either in the DJ booth or desprately trying to get in.... sometimes making odd motions that look like they might be trying to dance.. but because they don't know anything about the music (nor care) it's a sad site.... mostly just out for DJ dick... because then they'll be ... VIP....
-- ~*Kc*~, October 12, 2000

DXM- Some people call the misuse of Robitussin "Robotrippin"
-- David Estabrook, December 18, 2000

DXM is also a killer at clubs and parties because it can cause your body to overheat when mixed with MDMA. This occurs when dealers sell DXM as ecstacy, and would never occur if drugs were legal and users actually knew what they were purchasing. And another thing I should mention, DXM is my favorite drug. It can be used in small dosees to create a good vibe, or in large doses to trip you out crazy. It is also LEGAL and sources for to obtain pure dxm powder do exist.
-- scott, August 5, 2001

Dealer: No matter what face a dealer has wether it be innocent or evil looking, becareful!

Don't buy drugs on reputation either! Test each and every pill you buy! There are test kits available from certain record shops, chemists, stores which can be used to detect the presence of illicit substances. Make sure what you buy is what you want. If you are after MDMA(e) make sure it is that and not another drug (i.e speed bomb or a k bomb), or something else (i.e something which is not even a drug!)

And btw, there's no use in remembering what the dealer looked like if you are dead.
-- s, November 12, 2001

Actually, the number one cause of MDMA related fatalities is not MDMA related at all, that is to say, MDMA is relieved from the equation altogether. As it stands, the number cause of ecstasy related deaths is the ingestion of adulterated pills containing substances other than MDMA such as, dextromethophoran, para-methoxyamphetamine (really nasty stuff -- approximate LD50 in humans 80 - 100mg), PCB, etc..

Even still, that is not to say that MDMA can and does not cause dehydration. It does!! However, people seeking to hydrate themselves in a hot rave environment may tend to OVERhydrate themselves, which at times can be worse. Cerebral Odema (sp?) caused by Over hydration killed Leah Bretts in 1995, which led to highly publicised anti-ecstasy press.
-- Jae Signal, November 24, 2001

(k) 2000-2006 Ishkur
and the kickass artwork of Satoshi Urushihara